HUMS 1541: Interpersonal Communications and Helping Relationships
Students explore self-awareness as a foundational concept in the development of competent human service workers. The focus is on furthering self-knowledge and facilitating the development of self-reflection skills. Students will build personal awareness, self-understanding and effective interpersonal communication by examining aspects of self, such as motivations, emotions, values, attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, learning styles, personal styles, and self-concept.
Learning outcomes
- Acknowledge motivations, emotions, values, attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, learning styles, personal styles, self-concept, how we affect others and how others affect us.
- Develop personal awareness, self-understanding, and effective interpersonal communication.
- Attend to conscious use of self, and relationship building as they apply to helping relationships.
- Describe relevant concepts and major theories associated with the study of interpersonal communication.
- Apply basic communication skills (questioning, paraphrasing, summarizing) that can be used in interpersonal and helping relationships.
- Identify the key concepts related to group functioning and group roles.
- Notice and describe how social location and diversity influence their human service practices.
Course topics
- Module 1: Why a Self-Development Course in the Human Service Diploma Program?
- Module 2: Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
- Module 3: Interpersonal Communication and Perception
- Module 4: The Professional Skill of Listening
- Module 5: The Verbal Skills for Effective Listening
- Module 6: The Non-Verbal Skills for Effective Listening
- Module 7: More About Ourselves: Interpersonal Communication and Diversity
- Module 8: Interpersonal and Helping Relationships
- Module 9: Interpersonal Conflict
- Module 10: Group Work in Human Service Practice
- Module 11: Putting It All Together—Conscious Use of Self
Required text and materials
The following materials are required for this course:
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Beebe, S.A., Beebe, S.J., Redmond, M. & Salem-Wiseman, L. (2021). Interpersonal communication: Relating to others. (8th Canadian Edition). Pearson.
Type: E-Textbook. ISBN: 9780135453452
Note: This e-textbook can be purchased directly from the TRU bookstore site at https://thebookstore.tru.ca/site_digital.asp. To utilize this e-text after purchase, students will require the Course Invite Link. Students will find this in the Course Guide after completing course registration.
Assessments
To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the Final Mandatory Project.
| Quiz 1: Question and Answer, Modules 1-4 | 20% |
| Assignment 1: Diversity Research | 35% |
| Quiz 2: Short Essay, Modules 5, 6 & 8 | 25% |
| Final Project: Virtual Interview and Essay (mandatory) | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Please note that for this course to apply to the completion of your Social Service Worker Certificate, you must obtain a C grade (60%), or higher, overall in the course.
Open Learning Faculty Member Information
An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.
